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NASA space data can now be accessed through a Microsoft-based AI chatbot.

New Azure OpenAI Service-based AI chatbot lets users interact with spaceborne dataThe tool democratizes access to more users, including students and academicsUsers can ask natural language questions and let AI source the data

Microsoft and NASA have teamed up to launch Earth Copilot, a new custom copilot built on the Azure OpenAI Service platform to help the space agency make sense of the more than 100 petabytes of data that it has collected from space.

In a blog post, Microsoft explained geospatial data is already complex, and additional data being continuously collected from new satellites is adding to this difficulty.

With the new Earth Copilot tool, users will be able to interact with NASA’s data with natural language prompts, making it more accessible to more scientists, students and others.

Microsoft builds new AI chatbot for NASA

Tyler Bryson, CVP for US Health & Public Sector Industries at Microsoft, explained that data collected can include atmospheric conditions, land cover changes, ocean temperatures and more, but navigating technical interfaces, understanding data formats and getting to grips with geospatial analysis can be extremely challenging.

With the new Earth Copilot tool, users will be able to ask questions like “What was the impact of Hurricane Ian in Sanibel Island?” or “How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect air quality in the US?” and let AI do the data retrieval for them.

“We’ve designed the system to handle complex queries and large datasets efficiently, ensuring that users can quickly find the information they need without getting bogged down by technical complexities,” noted Juan Carlos López, former NASA engineer and current Azure Specialist at Microsoft.

A side effect of the project is that Microsoft and NASA have democratized access to spaceborne data, allowing a broader demographic to interact with it, including students and academics.

Minh Nguyen, Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft, added: “The vision behind this collaboration was to leverage AI and cloud technologies to bring Earth’s insights to communities that have been underserved, where access to data can lead to tangible improvements.”

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As the maritime industry becomes increasingly digitized, it also becomes more vulnerable to damaging cyberattacks.

The shipping industry is a critical component of global trade, with approximately 90% of world trade carried by sea. As the industry becomes increasingly digitized, it also becomes more vulnerable to damaging cyberattacks, with 23,400 malware and 178 ransomware detections registered in the first half of 2024 alone, according to a recent Marlink report.

The early adoption of technology in the maritime industry, like electronic navigation systems, created basic vulnerabilities that allowed unsophisticated cyber-attacks to be introduced. While these incidents were seen as accidental or opportunistic, they highlighted the industry’s lack of strategy and defense against cyber threats.

As the industry has developed and embraced more advanced technologies, so has the surface of attacks. Threat actors are quickly adopting new, AI-enabled techniques to increase the volume and sophistication of their attacks. Our latest threat intelligence shows the cyber threat landscape is a maelstrom of groups exploiting the latest vulnerabilities and utilizing new or updated malware families to target commercial enterprises and critical infrastructure.

Attackers can now gain prolonged access to networks containing sensitive information and use this to disrupt crucial operations, through a single point of entry. In the last year alone, marine giant, Brunswick Corporation has grappled with a cyberattack that disrupted their operations for nine days, causing a material impact of $85 million. Additionally, the European cargo shipping industry was targeted by Chinese threat actors earlier this year, who gained access to not only the office systems but also aboard the cargo vessels using a USB drive.

The reality is that cyberattacks at sea have the potential to be significant and long-lasting. Onboard system failures and compromises can put the safety of the crew and ship at risk. GPS spoofing or jamming can lead to collisions and grounding, while attacks targeting engine controls or ballast waste management systems can lead to crucial failures that increase the risk of environmental disasters like oil spills.

With the global maritime digitization market expected to grow by 14.2% by 2031, the industry will continue to face persistent threats from well-funded criminal organizations and state-sponsored actors. So, how can the maritime industry combat this growing threat?

Measuring the scale of potential disruptions

A key challenge for the maritime industry is operational technology lacking security capabilities like strong authentication found in IT systems. Meanwhile, reliable connectivity can be tough to come by while at sea or in remote parts of the world, and this greatly decreases the efficacy of most cybersecurity tools (but not all). Too many systems are cloud-dependent to work well when offline.

An additional hurdle to security at sea, and in ports, is the long lifespan of the systems in use, which is typically 10-30 years. Attackers only need to flood networks with legitimate-looking commands to gain entry. Hidden under the lack of detection systems, crews may not notice they have been boarded and by then the momentum of the attack has carried the vessel off course. Ensuring the security of interconnected systems and protection against remote hacking attempts are critical concerns.

Dr. Rory Hopcraft of the Cyber-SHIP Lab at the University of Plymouth and Dryad Global, CEO Corey Ranslem recently conducted lifelike simulations to identify the potential impact of today’s maritime security risks. The scenario involved attackers using a phishing email to install malware on a container ship entering the New York harbor.

The malware waited for GPS coordinates of the ship’s location, then flooded command systems to override the bridge and send the engines to full power. Within just 2.5 minutes, the massive vessel drifted off course and ran aground, blocking the critical shipping channel into New York for days. This single-ship incident would have disrupted over $1.6 billion in trade, impacting the entire supply chain.

In this simulation, the crew received an email from their onshore support team asking for a chart update. This points to a key vulnerability within the industry; human error and lack of cybersecurity training. Additionally, other potential attack vectors were identified, from engineers taking on devices themselves to conduct software firmware updates to ship pilots plugging in their own devices. The simulation even tested the scenario of crew members connecting e-cigarettes to the ship’s bridge.

The results showed that in every scenario, malicious software can and will board the ship eventually.

Enhancing cyber resilience at sea

Industry collaboration to strengthen collective defenses is vital. The IMO’s 2021 resolution on maritime cybersecurity, for example, mandates shipowners and operators to incorporate initiatives that allow for collective information sharing.

From an operational perspective, comprehensive strategies must be adopted by shipping companies and port operators to safeguard against sophisticated cyber threats. Implementing advanced technological solutions like intrusion detection systems and encryption protocols can protect critical systems from unauthorized access. Additionally, strong endpoint protection platforms will maintain a level of security even when in disconnected environments and regular software updates will mitigate the risk of software supply chain attacks.

Employing zero-trust strategies, like network and data-centric segmentation, is also essential for continuous access control and security validation. Furthermore, maritime companies must foster a culture of cybersecurity awareness with regular training and drills to equip crews with the skills needed to recognize and respond to potential threats and compromised systems.

Finally, the maritime industry must review its critical event management processes. Emergencies and disruptions will continue to happen; it’s how companies prepare and respond to them that determines their impact. Maritime companies should harness a secure emergency notification system with incident response tools and capabilities. This will provide the necessary tools to deploy response teams and enable them to better prepare for, respond to, and recover from critical events faster.

As the maritime sector continues to digitalize, the importance of robust cybersecurity measures and proactive risk management cannot be overlooked. The industry doesn’t have to face this challenge alone, working with a trusted security partner to harness advanced AI technologies, deploy innovative zero-trust and endpoint management strategies, and enhance critical event management capabilities. Only then will the industry truly be prepared to tackle cyber takeovers at sea.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro’s Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

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Windows 10 death knell sounds, as Microsoft shuts down Beta testing channel – so don’t expect any new features for the OS.

Microsoft has deployed one final preview build to the Beta test channelThe Beta channel is being closed down, leaving only Release Preview nowThis effectively means Windows 10 won’t get any more new features

Microsoft has just dropped the guillotine on the Beta channel for Windows 10, a testing platform that was only recently resurrected earlier this year.

The news was delivered as part of a new Beta preview in the usual blog post from Microsoft detailing the changes with build 19045.

In fact, this build is being released simultaneously to both the Release Preview and Beta channels for Windows 10 22H2, but it marks the end of the road for the latter.

Microsoft explains: “The Beta channel and Release Preview channel will receive the same Windows 10 build today just like we’ve been doing since June. However, this will be the last time we release a Windows 10 build to the Beta channel as we will be shutting down the Beta channel for Windows 10.”

Those Windows 10 testers who are currently in the Beta channel will be moved over to the Release Preview builds.

As for the work done in build 19045, it consists of some bug fixes, with the only actual change feature-wise coming to the Beta channel.

Don’t get excited, though, as Microsoft’s parting gift to Windows 10 is the Start menu now showing adverts (or ‘suggestions’ as the software giant puts it) for apps from the Microsoft Store which are from a “small set of curated developers” apparently.

Boo, hiss, etcetera – though you can turn off the ‘Show suggestions occasionally’ for the Start menu (head to Settings > Personalization > Start).

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Wachiwit)

Analysis: Time is running out for Windows 10

The Beta channel only came back to life in June 2024, as a platform for testing and continuing active development of Windows 10 – albeit in a limited fashion – so it was only briefly resurrected for not even half a year before getting the axe again.

This means that changes such as the above Start menu tweak won’t be coming to Windows 10 any longer (though in the case of this addition from Microsoft, you might be glad to see the back of active development for the older OS).

Effectively, this is Microsoft putting Windows 10 on ice, without saying as much – and that’s no surprise. After all, Windows 10 only has 11 months left on the clock before it runs out of support, so feature additions don’t make much sense at this point. Going forward, all we’ll have is the Release Preview channel for testing, the final stage of Insider builds before the release version of Windows 10, where minor fixes and bug squashing will be carried out.

Don’t expect anything new, in short, though we suppose Microsoft could still surprise us – this has happened in the past, after all, when the software giant announced an effective feature freeze, only to thaw that move with some reasonable-sized feature drops.

At any rate, the shuttering of the Beta channel is another reminder that if you are on Windows 10, you should be starting to consider your End of Life options. Whether that’s upgrading to Windows 11 somehow, or an entirely alternative approach like one of the more Windows deserter-friendly Linux distros, perhaps.

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Amazon representatives discussed its TikTok partnership of House China committee.

Amazon’s shopping partnership with TikTok questioned by US congress membersThe partnership allows users to purchase on Amazon but remain on the TikTok siteTikTok is facing a ban in the US, but has successfully fought it so far

The House Select Committee on China has expressed concerns over Amazon’s ecommerce partnership with Chinese-owned video platform, TikTok. The partnership between the platforms allows TikTok users to link their Amazon account, and make purchases through the site without leaving the TikTok app.

Lawmakers met with representatives from Amazon in a closed-door meeting at Capitol Hill to discuss the retail giant’s deepening relationship with the video platform. The meeting reportedly took place a month after the collaboration was announced.

“The Select Committee conveyed to Amazon that it is dangerous and unwise for Amazon to partner with TikTok given the grave national security threat the app poses,” a spokesperson told Bloomberg.

National security threats

The Committee raised concerns over the perceived threats posed by China’s government, and that a leading US company was partnered with a Chinese-owned organization, which has been previously threatened with a ban over national security concerns.

“Like many other US companies, we maintain open lines of communication with officials across all levels of government to discuss issues that are of interest to policymakers, our employees, and our customers,” the spokesperson said.

Amazon has advertised on TikTok for a long time, but the shopping collaboration will likely make it more difficult for the US to ban TikTok as previously attempted, given Amazon is the second largest employer in the US, and second largest company in the world by revenue.

Earlier in 2024, the US threatened TikTok with a ban unless it severed ties with Chinese parent company ByteDance, over concerns that the company was sharing customer data with the Chinese governments and ‘weaponize’ the information, something that TikTok has always denied.

TikTok challenged the ban, which it claims is ‘unconstitutional’, and as of yet, the platform remains on the App store. President-elect Donald Trump is expected to halt the efforts to ban the app, so its future is looking more secure.

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WordPress’ dispute displays the importance of the open source and corporate relationship.

Many of today’s online businesses wouldn’t exist without the open-source community, who write and manage code that’s freely available. What luck for for-profit companies building on the Web today!

And while the developers within the open-source community are typically passionate geeks who altruistically give their time and attention to projects they care deeply about, these communities generally need some kind of support to keep their ecosystems robust and expanding.

Typically this support comes through sponsorship and investment (financial or labor) by large corporations.

These partnerships between open-source development communities and large for-profit corporations are mutually beneficial, but, can sometimes crack under the pressure of misaligned incentives.

This was on full display recently in the very public dispute between WordPress founder and Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg and WP Engine, a hosting provider that services websites built on WordPress. Both companies utilize the open-source software maintained by the WordPress Foundation and WordPress.org.

Mullenweg attacked WP Engine for several of their features and their use of WP (signaling WordPress) in their name, which he said confused users into thinking they were part of the broader WordPress family of companies. WP Engine jumped in to defend itself, sending a cease-and-desist letter asking Mullenweg to withdraw his statements and saying their use of the trademark was covered under fair use.

This has set off a heated battle between the two companies, leaving end users with websites down, as well as unsecured from attacks. And it’s a lot of users – around 40% of websites are running on WordPress software.

But this isn’t a debate relegated only to websites. The Web – that digital eternity we spend so much time on today – is built on and remains running on a lot of this free open-source code.

It’s critical that this continues. It’s critical that major corporations see the privilege of utilizing the open-source community and continue to support their work. If benevolence isn’t attractive, then perhaps enlightened self-interest: where would your team be if that open source community collapsed tomorrow?

Benefits of free and open

The benefits of the open-source initiatives are manyfold.

The fact that there’s a huge repository of software that companies can use to build their business makes development times faster, lowers costs and promotes competition. It’s also a more flexible solution for businesses, not only in its utility as a highly-customizable source code, but in that there’s no contract lock-in, so users can integrate with any third-party tool they wish. Plus, open source code is completely transparent and monitored by thousands of experts, which means bugs and faults are found and fixed quickly, creating a safer Web overall.

It seems like a no-brainer for large well-off corporations to support those efforts. And yet, that’s not always the case.

As the WordPress drama suggests, this collaboration between public and private entities can get bogged down by unclear guidelines of use, trademark conflicts and more.

This is why it’s so important for open-source communities to architect their projects effectively. There are many potential business models open-source projects can employ, from software-as-a-service (SaaS) to open core to crowdfunding, but projects need to be aware of the future challenges that could arise. While many choose to monetize the product itself – think RedHat, which contributes to many open-source projects but also supplies open-source products to enterprises for a price – doing this under the same trademark can cause problems in the future.

Instead, open source projects should separate their foundations from commercial entities and establish strong governance. Separating the public and private means there’s less chance of confusion. And strong governance allows open-source projects to build a large community, create material incentives for corporations to contribute, and then (and only then) protect themselves with trademarks against any truly bad actors.

Reputation on the line

When these steps are taken, for-profit corporations have myriad reasons to support an open-source project.

For one, there’s general self-interest in seeing these free repositories – called the commons – grow because they drive innovation and collaboration. Supporting open-source projects ultimately benefits companies as the programming language and tech tools they rely on expand.

Other companies sponsor open source projects that align with their own very specific needs. For instance, Google is a big sponsor of the Python Software Foundation. They invest large amounts of money into the project address specific technical challenges within the business’ use of the programming language. And Meta invested heavily in fixing issues in building Django-based applications to help them scale Instagram.

Lastly, it’s a reputation play.

As the conflict between Automattic and WP Engine has shown, developers are a sensitive audience. Many in the development community are strongly on the side of open source and keeping it pure of profit-making intentions. Already 159 Automattic employees have left, accepting a severance package the company offered for those who disagreed with how Mullenweg was handling the situation.

It’s important that for-profit companies give back to open-source projects to build a positive reputation with developer communities. From those communities they not only get code and software, but they can then discover and hire top talent within the open-source contributor community.

Ultimately, while incentives seem misaligned between these two groups at times, the collaboration is key for the long-term stability of the Web we all rely on for an ever-increasing amount of daily activities.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro’s Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

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From the arrival of a new Marvel movie, to the return of hit shows, there’s lot to look forward to this weekend.

I’m going to be honest, dear reader. There’s only one thing I’ll be streaming this weekend – and, surprise surprise, it’ll be the second part of Arcane season 2. Yes, as I state in my Arcane season 2 review, I’ve already watched every episode multiple times, but can’t a guy stream them again?

If, for some utterly bizarre reason, you won’t be tuning into Arcane‘s next three episodes over the next 48 hours, there are other new movies and shows that’ll surely grab your attention. Indeed, from the official streaming debut of a new Marvel movie to the return of hit series, you’ll find something worth watching on the world’s best streaming services. Have fun! – Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

Deadpool and Wolverine (Disney Plus)

The only Marvel movie of 2024 has finally made its Disney Plus debut – and it’s about darn time. Admittedly, I’m not surprised it’s taken so long for Deadpool and Wolverine to join the streamer’s movie library – indeed, when you’re raking in money at the global box office, you’ll stick around on the big screen for much longer than anticipated.

Nevertheless, I’ve been itching to see it again since late July, so I’m delighted that the Marvel Phase 5 film is now available to stream. It’s one of the best Marvel movies to land in theaters as part of the Marvel Multiverse Saga, after all, so one of November’s new Disney Plus movies has been high on my re-watch list for a while.

Before you watch The Merc With a Mouth and his adamantium-clawed bestie embark on a multiversal adventure, though, read my Deadpool and Wolverine review for a taste of what’s to come. Once you’ve streamed it, be sure to read my Deadpool and Wolverine ending explained piece, plus my Deadpool and Wolverine cameos guide, for even more wondrous coverage.

Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

Watch Deadpool and Wolverine on Disney Plus

Cobra Kai season 6 part 2 (Netflix)

Cobra Kai season 6 has decided to end on a dramatic note. We’re used to Netflix dropping seasons in two parts, but this one is getting three so, if you thought season 6 part 2 was the end, you were wrong! The final five episodes arrive in 2025, so we don’t have to say goodbye yet.

Personally, I’ve had an absolute blast with this series and it’s been so great to see a modern day expansion of the iconic Karate Kid lore. Seeing some familiar faces and some big surprises along the way has been terrific and I know the ending is going to be bittersweet.

There’s a reason this is one of our best Netflix shows. Cobra Kai‘s legacy simply cannot be ignored; it’s cool, heartfelt, has a banging soundtrack, and we’re all on the edge of our seats waiting for that grand finale. I just know it’ll go out on a high, even if I will miss hanging out in the dojos. For now, though, I’ll be enjoying this next batch of episodes.

Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

Watch Cobra Kai season 6 part 2 on Netflix

Dune: Prophecy (Max)

Denis Villeneuve’s Dune and follow up Dune: Part Two delighted viewers – myself included – by treating us all to a big screen epic that dives into the huge lore originally penned by Frank Herbert. There’s so much going on in this world, so it’s hardly surprising a prequel series has dropped on Max. They’ve even made a video game set in the world, so the possibilities are seemingly endless.

The six episode series is set 10,000 years before the ascension of Timothee Chalamet’s Paul Atreides, following two Harkonnen sisters as they combat forces and establish the sect that will become known as the Bene Gesserit.

It’s still too early to say whether or not it’ll become one of our best Max shows, but HBO has a knack for smashing out huge hits. Just look at how much critics and general viewers loved The Penguin and you’ll know what I’m talking about. I’m really hoping Dune: Prophecy will be just as good, but only time will tell.

Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

Watch Dune: Prophecy on Max (US), Sky/Now TV (UK), and Binge (Australia)

Emilia Perez (Netflix)

Directed by Jacques Audiard, Emilia Pérez follows cartel leader Emilia (Karla Sofía Gascón) who enlists unappreciated lawyer Rita (Zoe Saldaña) to help fake her death so she can have sex-reassignment operations and live a new life under a new name: Emilia Pérez. I’m not usually a lover of musicals, but when I saw the trailer for Emilia Pérez, I instantly added one of November’s new Netflix movies to my ever-growing watchlist for its audacious song and dance numbers.

Emilia Pérez doesn’t fit within any conventional genre – indeed, it’s been described as a musical crime saga, which also serves as an opera and a comedy. Whatever it is, it’s something that both Netflix and I need right now. With 82% on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s likely to earn a spot on our best Netflix movies list, too.

Grace Morris, entertainment writer

Watch Emilia Perez on Netflix

Cross (Prime Video)

Prime Video loves a good ol’ book adaptation with the likes of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan and Alex Rider. Now, there’s another one to add to the list in the form of crime drama Cross. Based on James Patterson’s book series, albeit a show that tells an original story not depicted in the novels, Aldis Hodge steps into the role of talented homicide detective and forensic psychologist Alex Cross. As he and his partner John Sampson (Isaiah Mustafa) track down a serial killer, his personal struggles threaten to ruin his career and life.

I can always count on a high-octane cop thriller to keep me entertained. And, with Cross renewed for a second season before this chapter even aired, that’s a hopeful sign it might be one of the best Prime Video shows. Alex Cross may have a new fan on his hands – and that fan is most certainly me.

Grace Morris, entertainment writer

Watch Cross season 1 on Prime Video

Silo season 2 (Apple TV Plus)

It’s time! The hit Apple TV Plus show Silo season 2 has finally re-emerged from its underground bunker to bring you the first episode of its new 10-episode installment. For fans of one of the best Apple TV Plus shows, it’s been a long wait to get here. Following the show’s renewal in June 2023, production had been forced to pause due to the Hollywood writers’ strikes, which prompted Rebecca Ferguson to reveal (exclusively to TechRadar) that season 2 was a long way from makings its debut.

That wait is now over, which means fans can finally find out what happens next to Ferguson’s character Juliette Nichols after season 1’s shocking cliffhanger ending. Based on Hugh Howey’s dystopian book series, the BAFTA award-winning Apple show is filled with “big mysteries” that are only set to get bigger in the next chapter, according to showrunner Graham Yost. If you want to keep the sci-fi thrills going this weekend, then here are four more highly-rated shows on Apple TV Plus.

Amelia Schwanke, senior entertainment editor

Watch Silo season 2 on Apple TV Plus

Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson (Netflix)

We don’t normally recommend sporting tournaments or live events, but when one of the greatest heavyweight champion world fighters is stepping into the ring with a YouTuber for a completely free event on Netflix, it’s hard to ignore. After all, DAZN is the heavy hitter when it comes to boxing streaming rights – here’s all you need to know about boxing on DAZN if you’re a fan of the sport – so it’s surprising that this is being aired for free (as long as you’re a Netflix user, anyway).

Well, not that surprising when you see how much of a spectacle this fight is brewing online – Mike Tyson is known as an entertainer right? Critics are of course up in arms about what this fight means for the sport, saying it promotes profiteering and damages the legacy of the sport. Whichever corner of the ring you sit in, it’s going ahead and you’ll be able to tune in at 7:00pm ET tonight (November 15). Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to watch Ridley Scott’s latest sequel Gladiator II.

Amelia Schwanke, senior entertainment editor

Watch Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson on Netflix

For more streaming recommendations, read our guides on the best Disney Plus shows, best Hulu movies, best Paramount Plus movies, and best Max movies.

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Increasing exit fees and rendering software migrations incompatible are just some of the accusations facing Microsoft.

Microsoft accused of anticompetitive business practices in cloud marketThe FTC reportedly set to launch investigation into Azure businessRegulatory scrutiny is also affecting Amazon, Apple, Google

Microsoft could be the subject of yet another investigation into anticompetitive business practices.

A report from the Financial Times claims the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is reportedly preparing to investigate Microsoft over its Azure cloud computing business, which is accused of using restrictive licensing agreements to maintain its dominant position in the market.

The company has also been accused of tweaking prices to make it expensive for customers to leave in its effort to maintain high numbers.

Microsoft facing anticompetitive investigation

Raised subscription fees for customers seeking to leave, along with pricey exit and termination fees, could have been put in place to make customers think twice about the financial implications of changing providers.

Another anticompetitive practice Microsoft could have engaged in is making native systems, like Office 365, incompatible with other companies’ alternatives, therefore making it technically difficult to migrate.

The FTC’s probe follows a recent decision to investigate the business practices of major cloud providers, and it’s not the first time that Microsoft has been under the microscope. Just in the last year or two it has faced similar allegations over locking customers into its products within the European Union.

Google also has a role to play in the increased scrutiny over Microsoft – last summer, the company submitted a letter to the FTC accusing it of exploiting software like Windows Server and Office to push its Azure dominance.

However, Microsoft isn’t the only company that has faced such allegations. Many of its biggest rivals, including Amazon, Google, and just this week, Apple, have all been slated for anticompetitive business practices in one form or another – mostly relating to cloud subscriptions.

TechRadar Pro has asked Microsoft to comment on the allegations, but we did not receive an immediate response.

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CISA adds two more Palo Alto Networks Expedition flaws to KEV, and urges users to patch.

Two Palo Alto bugs are being abused in the wild, CISA warnsFlaws added to KEV catalog, giving federal agencies a deadline to patchThe bug can be abused to steal sensitive data and create arbitrary files

The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has added two new bugs to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, signaling in-the-wild abuse.

The bugs were found in Palo Alto Networks’ Expedition migration tool, the same tool that has had a separate vulnerability added to the catalog recently.

The newly-added flaws are an unauthenticated command injection bug (CVE-2024-9463), and an SQL injection flaw (CVE-2024-9465). The former allows threat actors to run arbitrary commands as root on the operating system, thus accessing usernames, passwords in cleartext, device configurations, and API keys for PAN-OS firewalls. The latter, however, allows crooks to access the Expedition database, where password hashes, usernames, device configurations, and device API keys can be found. Furthermore, the bug allows crooks to read, or create, arbitrary files on the system.

Deadline to patch

A hotfix seems to be available already, and those worried about being exploited should bring their Expedition tool to version 1.2.96, or later. Those who cannot install the patch immediately should restrict Expedition network access to authorized users, hosts, or networks, Palo Alto Networks advised.

When a vulnerability is added to KEV, it not only means that it is being exploited in attacks, but also that federal agencies have a deadline to patch, or stop using the flawed solution altogether. That deadline is typically 21 days from the date the bug is added to the catalog.

CISA recently added CVE-2024-5910 to KEV, a bug described as a missing authentication for a critical function, which can lead to Expedition admin account takeover for crooks with network access.

Palo Alto Networks Expedition is a tool designed to simplify and automate the process of migrating and optimizing security policies for Palo Alto Networks’ next-generation firewalls. It enables users to transition from legacy firewall configurations to Palo Alto Networks’ security platforms while reducing manual efforts and minimizing errors.

Via BleepingComputer

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Prime Video has partnered with PBS to expand their FAST channel offering.

Prime Video has partnered with PBS to host its free channelsThe news comes after the recent closure of Amazon FreeveeThis is the first time PBS shows are available to stream for free on a major streaming service

Prime Video has announced a partnership with PBS, following its recent decision to close the free streaming service Amazon Freevee. The loss of Freevee might come as a surprise to some viewers, but it looks like the streaming service is making up for that by bringing some exciting new things in the form of PBS channels.

The recent announcement confirms that one of the best streaming services will soon have more than 150 local PBS channels as well as PBS Kids as a free ad-supported TV offering. This is exciting news for both companies, as PBS confirmed this is the first time it’ll be free on a major streaming service.

“PBS member stations will be able to tap into a leading streaming service to offer quality local programming viewers know and love for free,” said PBS chief digital and marketing officer, Ira Rubenstein. “It’s part of the PBS commitment to make trusted content available to all households across as many platforms as possible. We thank Amazon for giving PBS Member Stations a new and exciting way to grow their digital footprint while engaging with audiences old and new.”

What else should we know about the Prime Video and PBS partnership?

Call the Midwife is one of the many great shows to watch on PBS (Image credit: BBC)

PBS confirmed it’s also launching two FAST channels available exclusively on Prime Video, PBS Drama and PBS Documentaries. These will be available exclusively on the streaming service for a limited time, and will launch on November 26.

There’s so much to watch on PBS so it’s an exciting way for subscribers to make the most of their Prime Video membership. Most notably, the network carries iconic British TV titles such as Call the Midwife, Downton Abbey and Poldark, for international fans wanting to enjoy those. They have plenty of original programming too including dramas, documentaries, cartoons, and more.

Prime Video is growing increasingly popular, to the point where one TechRadar writer Carrie Marshall said she’s pausing her Max subscription for Prime Video in November. Now feels like a great time to dive into some of the best Prime Video shows and best Prime Video movies.

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The society that brought us the Playstation wants you to become part of the next big thing.

Japan has been at the forefront of technology for more than 50 years, with iconic products such as the Sony Walkman and the Nintendo Switch becoming integral parts of the cultural fabric of the Western world. It now wants to attract the world’s smartest minds to come and collaborate with local, like-minded tech entrepreneurs; this is where the Tokyo Innovation Base (TIB) comes into play.

Launched last November, this is the official platform, backed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, where any foreign startup and solopreneurs wanting to operate in the land of the rising sun can find advice and support, from business to daily life and beyond. TIB is a place where major companies, investors, universities, and government agencies from all over Tokyo gather, allowing you to meet various key people for doing business in Japan.

At the heart of this project is SusHi Tech, an annual startup conference that puts the concept of “Sustainable High City Tech Tokyo” at its core. Its next edition will take place in Tokyo from 8th to 10th May 2025; however, on November 21st, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government will host a special Tokyo “SusHi” Night event for startups and investors at Newlab in New York where the Vice Governor of Tokyo will be speaking.

The purpose of the event will be to provide New York investors and ecosystem members with “a deeper understanding of the Japanese startup ecosystem, leading to investment opportunities in Japan, and to convey the appeal of the Japanese market to NY startups, leading to opportunities to enter Japan and collaborate with Japanese companies.”

We’ve listed four reasons why we believe Tokyo is an outstanding place for overseas startups to kickstart their Asian journey.

1. An economic powerhouse

Japan is the second-largest economy in Asia and enjoys a relatively stable macro environment with a high GDP. Tokyo, as its capital and its most populous region, enjoys the benefits of a large market for startups to emerge and thrive. The metropolitan area of Tokyo accounts for around a quarter of the entire population of Japan, at just over 35 million.

2. Business-friendly environment

Japan has developed world-leading infrastructure across telecommunications, transport, and logistics. Tokyo has benefited significantly from this drive. The Japanese government has also introduced various schemes to encourage foreign companies to invest locally. This includes tax incentives, streamlined business registration processes and comprehensive legal protection when it comes to intellectual property rights, one of the most exhaustive across Asia.

3. Innovation by design

Tokyo is home to almost 150 universities that have produced over decades, a highly-skilled, experienced, workforce, transforming Japan into the technological behemoth it is today. Technology companies such as Rakuten, Hitachi, Sony, Fujitsu, NTT Data, Sega and Line Corporation are headquartered there and benefited from this local brain power; smaller companies and Japanese startups can also tap into this talent pool.

4. The Asian advantage

Within a few hours of airplane travel, startups have access to a market of nearly two billion potential customers or users, one of the highest concentrations anywhere in the world. Tokyo is the perfect base for foreign startup companies seeking to expand in Asia, operating on a different timezone and in one of the safest cities in the world.

Check out the SusHi Tech webpage and LinkedIn pageVisit the Tokyo Innovation Base website and LinkedIn pageHave a look at the Invest Tokyo resource center and LinkedIn page for more information

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